91 CC Crankshaft and Piston Rod

[colu41]

So I officially found my problem with the intermittent starting and locking up. The piston connecting rod is loose on the crankshaft. Piston and cylinder are good. But my question is, is the bushing or bearing in the connecting rod replaceable or the crankshaft need to be replaced?

[Springbok]

There are no bearings on the crank or rod. You just buy a new rod. But I'd have that crank journal checked for out-of-round. My first KF82 motor, I rebuilt with a new rod thinking everything would be fine but it worked loose because the crank journal was slightly egged-out. You can send your old crank and new rod to a cart shop and they can machine them true. New cranks are around $600 last time I looked. I don't think you'd want to spend that much on a 23-year-old golf cart.

[Springbok]

This cart shop out of Georgia offers the machine service. Talked to the shop owner on the phone a year or so ago. I was going to have them do my crank/rod for around $200 but then I got lucky and found a good running motor before I pulled the trigger on the machine work:

http://www.jandmgolfcarts.com/

[colu41]

Well I looked into crankshafts and found one for $340new but. I didn't want to have to put much money into this but I just got it. So far with the price of the cart I have about $480 into it.

[colu41]

How is the crankshaft replaced? The guys I have looking at it said the clutch assembly looks machined into it.

[Springbok]

The clutch is press-fitted to the end of the crankshaft. You need a special clutch puller to remove it. It just looks like a long bolt and costs about $40. Don't try to remove it using a finger puller, you'll crack the inner sheave. Ask me how I know...

[Springbok]

This is the clutch tool. They say you're not supposed to use an impact gun to pop the clutch off but I always do. Just a couple of quick raps of the impact gun on the end of the puller bolt and the clutch comes right off.

http://www.golfcartking.com/Club-Car...olt-p/5707.htm

[colu41]

Thanks a lot. Ill find out today hopefully if I Wil need to replace the crank. I hope not. Would you need to use a caliper to see if the shaft is out of round or will it be clearly visible?

[Springbok]

You'll have to mic it out. You probably won't be able to see the imperfection. When I put my crank back in it was nice and smooth, I didn't check it, but it was no good. Seemed fine until the motor started knocking when it was in the cart and running.

[BLACK DEATH]

Is it worth it to rebuild this engine or buy one running or swap a clone in?
These don't have much HP any way.